Leicestershire & Rutland
Below is a list of organisations which can provide support and advice following parental separation in locations proximate to the Family Court at Leicester County Court.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is a scheme aimed at supporting and encouraging parties to resolve any family disputes outside of court using mediation. To find out more information about this scheme, including whether you may be eligible, please visit: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/mediation-vouchers/
Legal advice and support with the family court process
The Family Law Panel will offer a free consultation over the telephone. This ranges from answering one-off specific questions through to an initial “diagnostic” conversation. They can be accessed through its website: https://thefamilylawpanel.org
Only Mums and Only Dads is a not-for-profit organisation which provides support for separating families and works within the Family Law Panel. www.onlydads.org www.onlymums.org
Resolution has an excellent website with many fact sheets and information that can be accessed free of charge. Included are videos to help people acting without legal representation to navigate the court and free booklets that can be downloaded such as “Separation and Divorce – Helping Parents to help children” go to www.resolution.org.uk
“101 Questions answered about Separating with Children” – is a book (cost approximately £22, available on Amazon) which is intended for parents as a self-help type book and may be something you may wish to purchase. It covers the usual questions asked by parents about child arrangements following separation.
Wikivorce is an online guide to divorce within the UK. This is a volunteer run service which provides free advice and support for those going through divorce proceedings. The free phone service operates Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm and can be accessed on 01202 805020 or visit the website: divorce.wikivorce.com
Advice Now is a free online service that offers advice and information about separation and divorce. The site has many guides including: how to apply for child arrangement orders without a lawyer, how to navigate through a separation and how to get a divorce. For more information, please visit: www.advicenow.org.uk
Leicester University Law School Advice Clinic which offers free legal advice to members of the public. See leaflets attached or visit: Free Legal Advice Clinic | Leicester Law School | University of Leicester
Legal Support Students is available from 9am-1pm at Leicester Family Court, 90 Wellington Street, Leicester. Students can help you fill in your Court forms and give general information about the court process. They sit in a consultation room in the Family Court waiting room.
McKenzie Friend is a program where Legal Support Students can act as your McKenzie Friend and take notes during your hearing (subject to the consent of the Court). Email the date and time of your hearing to lawadviceclinic@le.ac.uk.
In Court Legal Advice Clinic is available from 9am-1pm at the Leicester Magistrates Court at the Newark Street entrance. Students are supervised by a solicitor and can give legal advice on family matters. You can contact them to make an appointment at lawadviceclinic@le.ac.uk or go to the Family waiting area at the Magistrates Court.
The University of Leicester Legal Advice Clinic offers free legal advice to the general public. Leicester Law School students are trained to give legal advice, closely supervised by qualified solicitors. For more information, please visit https://le.ac.uk/law/about/legal-advice-clinic or email lawadviceclinic@le.ac.uk.
Josiah Hincks Solicitors provide a free virtual clinic every week on Thursday between 10:00am-12:00pm. They book 20 minutes slots. www.josiahhincks.co.uk/
RCJ Advice provide free legal advice to those with a court case or who are about to start court proceedings. You can apply for an appointment by completing their assessment form and emailing it to familytriage@rcjadvice.org.uk. They also deliver family mediation and Separated Parent Information Programmes. For more information, please visit: www.rcjadvice.org.uk
Legal Aid UK provides a list of legal aid solicitors in Leicester. For more information, please visit www.legalaiduk.net/solicitors-leicester/
Disability Law Service provide free legal advice on issues such as housing and welfare benefits to disabled people and those who care for them. They aim to improve access to the law for people with disabilities and also provide information resources. For more information, please visit: dls.org.uk
Support for victims of domestic abuse
Family court domestic abuse support service – The Witness Service is a dedicated service from Citizens Advice. It’s free, independent, confidential and impartial and available to anyone attending the family court who identifies as a victim of domestic abuse (although priority is given to people representing themselves and cases involving child disputes and protective orders). Trained volunteers offer practical information about the court process (including arranging court visits and special measures that may be available) and emotional support to help victims feel more confident about attending court hearings. This can include meeting the victim on the day of the hearing, providing a safe space in their waiting room and helping you to access ongoing support from other organisations.
You can access this service by asking staff on arrival at court, for the domestic abuse support provided by the Witness Service. They also accept referrals over the phone on 0300 332 1000 or online: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/familycourt
Freeva a registered charity working towards reducing domestic violence, rape and sexual assault in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland: FreeVA Support – Free from Violence & Abuse
The Jenkins Centre offers an integrated domestic abuse service. We offer interventions to support people who have used abuse in their relationships to change their behaviour, whilst also offering support to their (ex) partners: www.jenkinscentre.org
- UAVA – 0808 802 0028
- Women’s Aid Leicester – 0116 283 2225
- Leicestershire Citizens Advice – 0844 417 1025
- Men’s Advice Line- 0808 801 0327
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247
- NSPCC- 0808 800 5000
Supervised and Supported Contact
Leicester Family Contact centre Telephone: 0116 233 1849
Emotional and well-being support
Samaritans – 0845 790 9090
Quetzal An initiative ran by the partnership of voluntary and community organisations in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland providing counselling and therapeutic services.
The network support survivors whose lives have been impacted through the trauma of domestic violence & sexual abuse: Need Help? – Refer Yourself and Start Counselling with Quetzal
The Parent Connection has a wide range of information, support and help for all separated parents. There is also a forum where parents can share experiences with other separated or separating parents. www.advice.co.uk/the-parent-guide-for-couples-and-parents-who-separate-or-divorce/
Family Lives offers a confidential advice line on 0808 800 2222, information and an online community. www.familylives.org.uk, a live chat is also available between 13:30 – 21:30 on weekdays (Not including bank holidays).
Gingerbread is a free online service which offers a helpline for single parents who may be seeking advice or support. They offer information pages, an online forum, a webchat function and a phone-in helpline. Please visit www.gingerbread.org.uk or call the helpline on 0808 802 0925 (Open Monday 10am-6pm, Tuesday/Thursday/Friday – 10am/4pm, Wednesday – 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm, the helpline is closed on public holidays).
Relate – “Our services include relationship counselling, family counselling, mediation, children’s counselling, young people’s counselling and sex therapy. We also provide friendly and informal workshops for people at important stages in their relationships. We’re here to help you make the most of your couple and family relationships, past, present or future.” 0116 254 3011
Mental Health Services
General advice and signposting to local services:
Vitaminds Service through the NHS: NHS Mental Health Services Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland (vitahealthgroup.co.uk)
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) : Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (leicspart.nhs.uk)
Substance and alcohol misuse
Turning Point integrated substance misuse service Leicestershire and Rutland:
Leicestershire Rutland | Turning Point (turning-point.co.uk)
Turning Point, 42 High Street, Coalville, LE67 3EE
Turning Point, 55 Woodgate, Loughborough LE11 2TZ
Turning Point Hinkley Hub, Stockwell House, New Buildings, Hinckley LE10 1HW
Call us on 0330 303 6000
Dear Albert helps individuals to stop taking alcohol and drugs
Text 07712 707999 | Helpline 0800 880 3153
Family Support Services in Leicester and Leicestershire
Leicester City Council Family Services:
Family Information | Social care and early help support (leicester.gov.uk)
The Duty and Advice Service operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week by calling 0116 454 1004
Leicestershire County Council
Children and Family Wellbeing Service Triage Team on 0116 305 8727
Children and Family Wellbeing Service | Leicestershire County Council
Rutland County Council
email earlyhelp@rutland.gov.uk or call 01572 758 493.
Family support from early help services | Rutland County Council
Each Local Authority also has Family Support Workers who are able to provide support for children and young people from 0-19 years and up to 25 years for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. They can also help parents and carers with vulnerabilities they may be having, which are affecting family life.
Examples of support may include:
- parenting skills and strategies
- building healthy relationships
- emotional wellbeing
- staying safe in the community
- building confidence and self esteem
- child’s development
- building positive relationships between home and school
- housing and financial issues
- returning to employment or education
- developing positive community relationships
- access to local services and facilities
The aim is to work with the whole family, delivering the service in the family home and other community settings like schools or Family Hubs.
For the Family Support Worker to understand your support needs fully, they complete an assessment of support need. This is usually an Early Help Assessment (EHA) which is completed with you, your family and other relevant individuals you identify together. This will gather together what you are requesting support with, any other support needs you may identify together as part of your conversations, but importantly helping to build on existing strengths and avenues of support your family already have.
Safe Families
Safe Families – charitable organisation that works with local authorities, Churches and Community Groups across the UK but also based in Leicester: Tel: 0333 4141488
Homestart
Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.Please visit: Home-Start UK